258 valve cover leak

[ftwflh]

My 76 CJ5 has a bad leak at the back of the valve cover and you can see where it has been changed before with gasket and sillicone.Will I be better off changing covers and a new gasket or will just a gasket fix it?Have had to change covers on old Chevys when the cover gets weak and pulled at the holes.

 

[Cheepjeep85]

is it plastic or metal? if its the plastic one i'd look for a new one aluminum or otherwise. if its the stamped steel one you can take a couple of hammers and straighten out the bolt holes which will help it seal. if you reuse the old valve cover be sure to use some silicone gasket maker with the new gasket, and don't over tighten it, its the only way i have found to stop it from leaking

 

[dalefan88]

i have a cork felpro gasket with black rtv and no leaks.

 

[elwood blues]

I actually took my stamped steel valve cover to a machine shop and had them acid dip it. It didn't cost much and it got all of the previous clobs of gasket material and silicone off. I used a good Fel-Pro gasket from NAPA and some Permetex "the right stuff" gasket maker, I haven't had a leak yet. Knock on wood.

 

[ftwflh]

I tightened up the bolts today(they were real loose)If that doesnt work I will go with a GOOD gasket.It is a steel cover

 

[ThisGuyUKnow]

Rip out the AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l head and put in a 4.0 head in lol

 

[ftwflh]

It is AMAZING what tightening the cover bolts will do